The Response Rates to Monotherapy and Polytherapy in Children with Epilepsia

Abstract

This study was performed ta evaluate the response rates of children with epilepsia to monotherapy ar polytherapy. In this study, 276 children with epilepsia were evaluated retrospectively. Monotherapy was administered ta 272 of 276 children with epilepsia as the initial therapy and in 208 patients the seizures were well controlled. A second trial of another monotherapy was administered to the children who were not under control or ta those who had recurrences despite the first monotherapy regimen. Both monotherapy regimens were found to be effective in 224 of 272 patients and the response rate was 82.3%t. Polytherapy was administered ta 42 epileptic ehi/dren who were not under control despite the monotherapy regimens. In 25 children (59.4%) the seizures were able to be controlled with polytherapy, at !ast 249 of 276 (90.3%) responded ta both monotherapy and the polytherapy regimens. We conclude that monotherapy must be preferred as the initial therapy in patients with epilepsia. A different monotherapy regimen should be administered if the first monotherapy Jails to control the seizures. Polytherapy should be used in those patients who do not respond to monotherapy regimens.